Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 40

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 40 A Messianic Psalm of David—The Messiah shall come and preach righteousness—He shall declare salvation—The righteous shall say: The Lord be magnified.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I ^aWAITED patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit¹, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a ^arock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a ^anew ^bsong in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.	2^a He brought me up also out of an horrible pit The mission of the Messiah is personified in that which the Lord does perform towards David. He will bring us all also out of that horrible pit, preach righteousness unto us and explain and provide the way of his salvation. The one and only true way to return to God from whence we came.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful ^aworks which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not ^adesire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to ^ado thy ^bwill, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11 Withhold not thou thy tender ^amercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart ^afaileth me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their ^ashame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; ^amake no tarrying, O my God.